Notes on the photo-induced characteristics of transition metal-doped and undoped titanium dioxide thin films

This study reports the preparation of thin nanoparticulate films of titanium dioxide and its modified version doped with a transition metal. The behavior of prepared films was described by means of their photocatalytic and photo-induced electrochemical properties. The TiO(2) and M/TiO(2) (M=Ag, Zr, Fe) thin films were produced via a standard sol-gel method using titanium n-butoxide, acetylacetone, and transition metal acetylacetonates as precursors. Prepared films were analyzed by a series of techniques involving XRD, Raman spectroscopy, SEM, AFM, and XPS. Their photocatalytic activity was monitored with the aid of decomposition of the model compound Rhodamine B in water. All films were then tested for their photo-induced electrochemical properties based on evaluation of polarization curves (photocurrents). The highest reaction rate constant (0.0101min(-1)), which was even higher than that for pure TiO(2), was obtained for the Ag/TiO(2) sample. The highest quantum yield of the charge collection was determined for the undoped TiO(2) film.